Where Is Your Bookmark: The Last Christmas in Paris & A Little Friday Fun

At the moment I am juggling two books, one of which is The Last Christmas in Paris by Hazel Gaynor and Heather Webb. While World War II novels are quick to catch my interest, so are books set in and around the first World War. I knew I wanted to read this one the minute I first heard about it. You may say it is too early for Christmas-themed novels, but I already know this is much more than that.

Goodreads Summary: 

August 1914. England is at war. As Evie Elliott watches her brother, Will, and his best friend, Thomas Harding, depart for the front, she believes—as everyone does—that it will be over by Christmas, when the trio plan to celebrate the holiday among the romantic cafes of Paris.

But as history tells us, it all happened so differently…

Evie and Thomas experience a very different war. Frustrated by life as a privileged young lady, Evie longs to play a greater part in the conflict—but how?—and as Thomas struggles with the unimaginable realities of war he also faces personal battles back home where War Office regulations on press reporting cause trouble at his father’s newspaper business. Through their letters, Evie and Thomas share their greatest hopes and fears—and grow ever fonder from afar. Can love flourish amid the horror of the First World War, or will fate intervene?

Christmas 1968. With failing health, Thomas returns to Paris—a cherished packet of letters in hand—determined to lay to rest the ghosts of his past. But one final letter is waiting for him.

A weekly meme where readers share the first sentence of the book they are reading and say what they think. Hosted by the wonderful Gillion Dumas of Rose City Reader.

Life is forever changed without her; without the sense of her somewhere near. Empty hours wander by as  I listen for the soft tread of her footfall on the stair and wait for her laughter to cheer these lifeless rooms. When I close my eyes I can conjure her; the scent of her perfume, the feather-touch of her finger-tips against my cheek, those intense blue eyes looking back at me. But it is all illusion. Smoke and mirrors that conceal the truth of her absence.

I just love this introduction. It is part of the prologue that opens the book and sets the stage. It's evident that Thomas loved this woman and misses her terribly. I can feel his grief in this paragraph.

A weekly meme in which readers share a random sentence or two from page 56 or 56% of the book they are reading. Hosted by the wonderful Freda of Freda's Voice.

Oddly, now I find myself asking, is "real life" what happens back in London? cars jamming the streets, people rushing about, ladies tending their gardens and buying new hats, men knocking back a fine scotch after a round of billiards at the club. Or is the reality here, harsh and unspeakable? Blood and flesh and all that senseless death.

I thought I might share a bit of one of Evie's letters, but Thomas's letter to Evie takes center stage on page 56 and the pages before and after. This excerpt actually comes from page 57,  but stood out for me in just  how violence and war can shake one's perception and view of the world. He isn't the first to wonder, and unfortunately, won't be the last.


What do you think? Is this something you would want to read more of?

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Every Friday Ellen from 15andmeowing.com and Ann from McGuffy’s Reader get together to host the Friendly Fill-Ins. You can be serious or funny--the idea is just to have fun.

1. "Keep calm and stick your leg up in the air!" (My daughter's contribution)


2. Not being able to cuddle with, pet or be awakened each morning by my Parker disappoints me.


3. Reading is my way of slowing down and stepping outside the fast lane that life often can be.                          .

4. In retrospect, sometimes the biggest struggles and challenges we face are the ones that lead us to our greatest accomplishments.


 I hope you all have a wonderful weekend! Be sure and tell me what you are reading and are up to!

Because sitting on my husband's journal in the rocking chair is the best seat in the house.

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© 2017, Wendy Runyon of Musings of a Bookish Kitty. All Rights Reserved. If you're reading this on a site other than Musings of a Bookish Kitty or Wendy's feed, be aware that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.